Startup Fundraising Accelerator
An eight-month intensive program designed for founders who need more than theory. We're talking practical fundraising skills, actual investor connections, and strategic guidance that reflects how startup finance really works in Australia's competitive landscape.
What You'll Actually Learn
Most fundraising courses teach you to build a pitch deck. That's useful, but it's maybe 15% of what you need. The rest? It's knowing when to approach investors, how to structure your cap table so you don't regret it three years later, and understanding what different types of investors actually want to hear.
We built this program after watching too many talented founders struggle not because their ideas were weak, but because they didn't know how to position them properly. One founder we worked with last year had been pitching for six months with no traction. After restructuring their approach and refining their story, they closed a seed round within eight weeks.
The program starts in September 2025 and runs through April 2026. You'll work through real fundraising scenarios, get feedback from people who've raised millions themselves, and build relationships with investors who actually invest in Australian startups.
Core Curriculum Areas
We've structured the program around six key competency areas. Each builds on the previous one, but they're also interconnected because that's how fundraising actually works.
Financial Modeling
Build realistic projections that investors will take seriously. Learn how to model different growth scenarios and understand which metrics matter most for your specific industry and stage.
Investor Relations
Discover how to identify the right investors for your startup, craft personalized outreach that gets responses, and manage ongoing relationships that extend beyond a single funding round.
Cap Table Strategy
Understand equity allocation, dilution, and how early decisions impact your long-term ownership. We'll walk through real examples of structures that worked and ones that created problems down the line.
Due Diligence Preparation
Get your company documentation, financials, and legal structures ready for investor scrutiny. Learn what red flags investors look for and how to address potential concerns proactively.
Negotiation Tactics
Master term sheet negotiations, understand valuation methods, and learn when to walk away from deals that don't serve your long-term interests. Real scenarios, not theoretical exercises.
Alternative Funding
Explore grants, revenue-based financing, strategic partnerships, and other options beyond traditional VC. Sometimes the best capital for your startup doesn't come from conventional sources.
Learn From People Who've Done It
Our mentor team includes founders who've raised capital across different stages and sectors. They know what works because they've lived through it themselves. Some have raised multiple rounds, others have pivoted their funding strategies mid-journey, and several now invest in startups themselves.
You'll have regular sessions with mentors matched to your industry and funding stage. These aren't generic office hours where you get five minutes of rushed advice. We're talking substantive conversations about your specific challenges, with people who actually understand your context.
Callum Driscoll
Seed Stage Specialist
Raised three successful seed rounds and now mentors early-stage founders navigating their first fundraising experiences.
Tamsin Rowley
Growth Capital Expert
Led Series A and B fundraising for two tech companies and brings insight into scaling fundraising strategies.
Fraser Lockhart
Financial Modeling Lead
Previously CFO at two startups and specializes in building financial models that tell compelling growth stories.
Imogen Prescott
Investor Relations Coach
Closed deals with major Australian VCs and angel networks, now helps founders refine their investor approach.
Program Journey
Here's how the eight months typically unfold. Every cohort is different, but this gives you an idea of what to expect and when different pieces come together.
Assessment and Strategy Development
We start by evaluating where you are right now. What's your current financial position? What funding do you actually need, and when? We'll build your foundational financial model and help you understand which funding paths make sense for your specific situation. This phase is heavy on self-assessment and honest evaluation of your startup's readiness.
Materials and Positioning
Now you're building everything you'll need for fundraising conversations. Your pitch deck, executive summary, financial projections, and supporting materials. But more importantly, you're refining how you talk about your business and learning to adapt your message for different investor audiences. Expect multiple revisions based on mentor feedback.
Active Fundraising Support
This is when you start actual investor outreach. You'll practice pitches, receive feedback after real meetings, and adjust your approach based on what's working. We help you manage conversations with multiple potential investors simultaneously and think through term sheet negotiations as they arise. Some founders close deals during this phase, others are still building pipeline.
Closing and Post-Funding Strategy
Whether you've closed funding or are still in active conversations, we focus on what comes next. How do you maintain investor relationships? What should your communication cadence look like? If you didn't secure funding this round, what adjustments make sense? We help you transition from fundraising mode to execution mode with clear plans moving forward.
Applications Open June 2025
Our September cohort is limited to 20 founders to maintain quality mentorship and peer connections. If you're planning to fundraise in the next 12 months and want practical support, reach out to learn more about the application process.
Get Program Details